Differential for motor vehicles and the like



June 27, 1933.

S. A. B. HAMILTON, JR

DIFFERENTIAL FOR MOTOR VEHICLES AND THE LIKE Filed June 27, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 n Q b? w v a. v H

' INVENTOR @Afimow d3- ATTORNEY June 2'?, 1933. s, A. B.' HAMILTON, JR

DIFFERENTIAL FOR MOTOR VEHICLES AND'THE LIKE Filed June '27, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2' ATTORNEY June 27, 1933. s. A. B. HAMILTON, JR 1,

DIFFERENTIAL FOR MOTOR VEHICLES AND'THE LIKE 4 sheets-sheet 3 Filed June 27 1932 ATTO RN EY June 27, 1933. t s. A; B. HAMILTON, JR 9 5 DIFFERENTIAL FOR MOTOR VEHICLES AND THE LIKE L Filed June 27 1932 4 h ets-Sh e 4 INVENTOR aAbfiAmmToN. JR

ATTORNEY Patented June 27, 1933 SAMUEL A. B -E .rrnron, an, or near wanna, Taxes DIFFERENTIAL FOR MQTOR VCLESAND THE LI Application filed June 27, was.

My invention relates to difierentials for motor vehicles and more particularly to treewheeling and dual ratio type of difierentlals; and the object is to provide a flexible difierential for motor vehicles that may be made in the full floating type, or the various types of standard form. Another object is to provide a difierential for motor vehicles that may be operated in the standard form or may be changed at the will of the operator to operate in any predetermined varation of speed relative to the standard ratio. Another object is to provide a differential for motor vehicles in which the operator or driver of the vehicle has complete control of the vehicle at all speeds and may transfer from standard to dual ratio in .either free-wheeling or direct drive without throttling the enine.

An advantage of this device is that it protectsthe engine of the vehicle, in that the dual ratio feature permits the operator of the vehicle to maintain a constant speed without raising the speed of the engine. Aim

other advantage of this diii'erential is that the dual ratio feature may be set so that the vehicle will not roll backward, which is a safety feature in mountainous country.

Other objects and advantages will be fully explained in the following description and the invention will be more particularly point- .cd out in the claims.

' Reference is had to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this application.

- 1 is a vertical section of the diiieren tial.

Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing a portion of the mechanism in section. and its relation 10 to the engine or the driving medium.

Fig. 3 is a partial section of the differential, showing pneumatic means for controlling the dual ratio feature and the free-wheeling of the same.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the free-whceiing mechanism for the standarddrive.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of a portion of the difl'erential. showing: the adaptation of the i i'cc-u'llccling unit independent of the 59 dual rat; nuwhanism.

Serial No. $319,508.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the vehicle, illustrating the installation of the device and the mechanism for controlling the same. i

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the mechanism for controlling the free-wheeling feature of the dual ratio mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a detail view of the control lever for setting the mechanism to operate in standard ratio, dual ratio, and dual ratio freewheeling.

Fig. 9 is a detail view of the clutch mechanism for holding the dual ratio parts of the difi'erentia'l in operative sition.

Fig. 10 is a face view 0 the clutch disk for the free-wheeling mechanism of the dual ratio gears and the control for the same.

. Fig. 11 is a vertical section of a portion of the diii'erential, illustrating the'use of variable sizes of gears for decreasing the speed of the axles relative the normal ratio.

Fig. 12 is a similar view, showing the relation of the axle gears for causing an increase of axle speed relative the standard ratio.

Similar characters of reference are used i to indicate the same parts throughout the several views.

The device consists of a difierential housing lin which there are used two com lete n differential units or gearings, the standarddifierentiai gears B and a unit of auxiliary differential gears it, each set cooperating with each other for driving the axles in normal direct speed, normal free-wheeling, a change of speed relative the normal ratio (which may be termed as dual ratio), and dual ratio in freewheeling. The differential is provided with the usual axles 2 and 3 which are keyed to the axle gears 4 and 5 respectively of the differential unit B, or the standard gearing. Each of the units A and ii are provided with the usual spider gears which mesh with axle gears and each unit is provided with a cas ing in the usual manner of differential gears. Free-wheeling disks 6 are keyed to the axle 2, and these disks are enclosed in .a housing 7 so that they may have frictional contact with the inner periphery thereof. The housin 7 is provided with a sleeve 8 inte ral therewith and revohrhly mounted on t 5?;

and adapted to be keyed to the gear 9 of the auxiliary differential gearing A. A cap or facing 10 is made rigid with the housin 7 so that the disks 6 may be enclosed in the ousing 7. The member 10 is provided with a splined sleeve 12 integral therewith and revolubly mounted on the axle 2. A gear wheel 13 is made integral with the outer end of the splined shaft or sleeve 12 and adapted to mesh with a gear wheel 14 which is keyed to and slidably mounted on the axle 2 of the differential. A gear wheel 11 is interposed between the cap or facing 10 and gear 13 and slidably mounted on the splined sleeve 12 of the member 10. g The gear 11 is also rotatably rigid with the splined sleeve 12.

The gear 11 is adapted to slide into mesh with internal gears '17 of a friction disk 15. The disk 15 is rotatably mounted on the sleeve 12 adjacent the gear 13 so that the gear 11 may be. freely slid between the facing 10 and the gears 17. v

An annular ring 16 is ri idly mounted within the housing 1 of the di erential so that the disk 15 may have frictional contact with the inner periphery thereof. The annular ring 16 is cup shape in form so that the side thereof may serve to limit any axial movement of the disk 15. The disk is adapted to be operated so that when it is held rotatably stationary when the gear 11 is meshed with the gears 17, the axles are driven in dual ratio without free wheeling; and when the disk 15 is permitted to rotate the axles will be driven in dual ratio but the vehicle is permitted to free-wheel. I 1

The auxiliary differential gearing A is driven by the usual drive shaft 18 which is operatively connected to and driven by an engme 20 and transmission 19. The drive shaft is provided with a pinion 23 rigid therewith which meshes with and drives a ring gear 24. The rin gear 24 is made rigid with the casing 25 0 the auxiliary difi'erential unit A and drives the casing 25 in the usual manner and the casing spider gears which mesh with and drive the gears 9 and 22 of the unit A.

The driving force of the engine 20 is imparted to the differential gear unit B through the unit A. The gear 22 of the auxiliary unit A is-keyed to a sleeve portion of the housing 21 of thestandard difi'erential unit B which imparts a driving force to the cas-.

ing 21 of the standard differential unit B similar to the drive of the auxiliary unit A. The slide gears 11 and 14 may be made 'integlral so that they may move in unison car The position of the gears'11 and 14 shown in on t e s lined sleeve 12 and axle 2 'respec' tively. he ears 11 and 14 are adapted to be positione in three distinct positions.

Fig. 1 controls the difi'er'ential gearing as a whole to impart a standard forward drive of the axles without free wheeling. In this position the gear 9 is held rigid with the axle 2 rotate backward.

through the housing 7 and its facing or cap 10 and gear 14 meshing with the gear 13- which is rigid with the sleeve 12 of the cap 10. A second position of the gears 11 and 14 is a release of the gears 14 and 13 which looks thegear 9 with the axle 2 through the frictional contact with the disks 6 which are keyed to the axle 2. In this osition the drive of the shaft 18 forward Wlll drive the vehicle in standard ratio but the forward momentum of the'vehicle above the forward pull of the ower medium 20 is unrestricted. This secon position 'of the gears 11 and 14 permits the vehicle to be driven in standard ratio in free-wheeling. A third movement of the gears .11 and 14 permits the vehicle to be driven in a different speed from the standard ratio, as shown in Figs. 1, 11, and 12, either with or without free-wheeling. In this position the gear 11,is meshed with the internal gear 17 of the disk 15 and the gear 9 is keyed to the housing 1 of the difierential' through the frictional contact of the disk 15 with the ring 16. The disk 15 cooperates with the ring 16 so that it is locked against forward movement but may run in reverse direction. Thispermits the vehicle to be driven in a speed ratio different to the normal drive ratio with free-wheeling. Provision is made for holding the disk 15 stationary in the housing 1 so that the vehicle ma be driven in this ratio without free-whee ing. The disk 15 and the disks 6 are all operated or adapted to frictionally contact with their rings or drums in a similar manner, the disks 6 being locked against rotation when the drum 7 is being driven forward, and the'disk 15 bein locked against rotation when it is bein di'iven forward. A reverse rotation of t e drum 7 or the disk 15 is permitted for free-wheeling of the vehicle except when other cooperating parts are used to lock the drum 7 with the axle 2 or lock the disk 15 against rotation forward or backward.

The disk 15 is interposed between the side wall of the ring 16 and a flanged ortion 26 of the differential housing 1 whic is made integral therewith. Cut out portions or slots 27 are provided in the outer periphery of the disk 15 and balls or rollers 28 are carried in these slots so that they will engage the in ner periphery of the ring 16 and prohibit the v disk 15 from rotating in the direction of the forward movement of the vehicle.

side wall of the slot 27 and against the roller.

28 so that the ball orroller 28 will normally bear against the inner periphery of the stationary ring 16 prohibiting the disk to ro-' tate forward but permitting the disk 15 to The face of the disk 15. opposite the side wall of the ring 16, is provided with a clutch A roller or ball 28 is resiliently carried in each of the E siness facing which is adapted to be frictionelly engaged by a disk 31. The disk 31 is provided with slots in the outer periphery thereof and the disk is held slidably in the housing 1 by means of lugs 32 which are integral with the inner periphery of the ring 16 and adapted to PI'OJECt into the slots of the disk Ill. The side of the disk 31, opposite the cfutch facing 30, is provided with wedge shaped clutch face members 33 annulsrly disposed about the face thereof and adapted to be engaged by rollers or balls 34. The clutch face members 33 are each formed to. slope outwardly from the face of the disk 31 at a slight angle therefrom so that's partial rotation of the disk will cause the rollers 34 to wedge the disk 31 against the dish 15.

The disk 35 is rotatahly carried in the housing 1 between the members 33 and the flange it; of the housing and adapted to be oscillated therein manually to serve as e clutch "For the disk 15. A ball race 36 is interposed between the disk 35 and the flange portion 26 of the housing 1. A lug 87 is Inside rigid with the outer eriphery of the disk 35 and rediates thererrom. The lug 37 is slotted to receive a control rod 38 which projects there through and is held in operative relation to the lug 3? hy means of coil springs 39. A spring 39 is placed on eech'side oi the lug 37 and around the rod 38. Each spring is provided with e not 40 for causing; e. resilient connection for the rod 38 and lug; 3?. The rod 38 may he extended to the dash of the vehicle and it convenient form oit handle or hotton 41 may-he provided for manually actuating the same for causing the clutch disk to engage and hold the dish 15, as shown in Fig.

6. W hen the button ii is actuated for holding the disk 15 against rotation the vehicle may be driven in dual ratio without treetrol rod 33 with the lug 3'? of the dish 35.

The other end of the rod 45 is made rigid with 21 piston 46 of a hydraulic or pneurnetic cylinder 4?. The cylinder i? and its piston. 46

may he made rigid with the housing 1 oi the diiierentisl and positioned relstive the control rod or link bar 43 so as to slide the gears 11 and it to their various positions.

A. cylinder 48, which is similar to the cylinder 47, is positioned on the dash of the vehicle. as shown in Fig. t5, and this cylinder is provided with a piston 49 which is adapted to be reciproceted therein hy the manual eprigid with the piston 49 and projected through -the cap 51 of the cylinder to serve.

as a handle for the operator. The rod 50 is provided with a "roove 52 formed longitudinally in the rod and having abrupt turns 53 so that the rod will have to he turned in the cylinder before the piston 49 can be made to travel its full extent in the cylinder 48. The cylinder cap 51 is provided with 9. lug or key 53' in the port thereof which is adapted to project into the groove 52 of the rod, thus necessitating the partial rotation of the rod 50 so that the lug 53 will be permitted to pass the abrupt curves or corners 53 of the groove 52 in the reciprocation.. ot the rod and piston 49. A pipe 54 is joined to the cylinders 47 and 48 which serves as a fluid connection between the cylinders. The pipe 54 and the cylinders are filled with fluid so that any manual movement of the piston 49 imparts a similar movement to the piston 46- of the cylinder A spring 55 is carried in the cylinder t? for holding the piston 46 in normal position as shown in Fig. The coil sprung 55 is interposed between the piston it; and the end or the well of the cylinder 4? opposite the pipe connection 5 When the piston 46 is in normal position in the cylinder t7 adjacent thepipe connection 5 .2, the piston 49 is at its extreme position in the cylinder 48 away from the pipe connection 5 of ti e cylinder 48. lVhen the her 50 is manually moved, the hydraulic connection with the gears Ill and i l cause thorn to move in unison. The position shown in Fig. 3 is for normal drive ratio without freewheeling. 'When the her or rod 50 is moved to the dotted position indicated as G, in Fig. 3. the mechanism is set for a normal drive ratio with tree-wheeling. Further movement of the her 50 to the dotted position indicated by D positions the mechanism for a change of speed from the normal drive, with or without free-wheeling. The control oi? the tree-wheeling in this speed being. controlled by the position cu the hutton 41 on the clash of the vehicle.

JV hen the clutch mechanisms 33 and 34ers operated to engage the members 33 for hold ing the disk 15 stationery the mechanism is positioned for the higher speed ratio without free-wheeling.

Fig. 5 illustrates the adaptation of the free-wheeling mechanism to the ordinary differential gearing. In this structure the differential gearing 9 is keyed to the housing 7 end the gear 22 is keyed to the axle 3 in the usual manner. The free-wheeling effeet its etteinedin this instance in a similar manner to that attained by the structure shown in Fig. l. A cap 7' is provided for the drum 7, and the cap is provided with a face clutch 13 which is adapted to be engsged by a slide gear 1 The slide gcer 14 is adapted to be manually slid on a splined portion of the axle 2 for en a g and disengaging the gear 13 which 1s integral with the cap The free-wheeling disk 6 is provided with slots 6 in the outer periphery thereof that are.

adapted to resiliently carry balls or. rollers 56. The balls 56 are adapted to engage the inner periphery of the drum 7 b the tension of coil springs 57. The coil springs 57 cause the disk 6 to function relative its housing 7 in a similar manner to the operation of the disk 15 and ring 16. This structure causes the disk 6 to be held rigid with the drum 7 when the vehicle is being driven forward, but releases the disk 6 relative the drum 7 when the momentum of the vehicle is greater than the en inespeed, thus permitting free wheeling. en the gear 14 enga es the gear 13' the differential gear 9' is ma e rigid with the axle 2, causing the mechanism to operate in the usual manner without freewheeling.

Figs. 11 and 12 illustrate a variation in the structure of the auxiliary difierential unit A, to attain a speed of more or less than the dual ratio illustrated in Fig. 1. When the mechanism is set for normal drive the axles 2 and 3 are driven by the 'difierential unit B; but when the mechanism is set for dual ratio, or change of speed relative to the normal ratio, the ratio attained is governed by the diameter of the gear 62 relative the diameter of the ear 22 of the auxiliary differential gears The use of two sizes of gears 22 and 62 in the dizderential unit A n'e-= cessitates the use of two sets of spider gears on the spider 61. A supplemental pinion 63 is made rigid on the shaft oi the spider 61 that carries the usual pinion. in Fig. ll the supplemental pinion 63 is meshed with the gear 62 and'the gear 62 is keyed to the disk housing 7. The standard pinion oi the spider is meshed with the gear 22 and the gear 22 is keyed to the housing 21 of the differential unit B. The speed imparted from the unit A to the unit 18, in this instance, is above normal ratio but less than the dual ratio, as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 12 illustrates a reverse of the structure shown in Fig. 11

in which the standard pinion meshes with the gear keyed to the housing 7 while the inion 63 is meshed with the gear 22 which 1S keyed to the housing of the unit B. This arrangement imparts a speed to the axles above the dual ratio form in which the gears 9 or 62 and 22 are of the same diameter.

What I claim, is:

1. In a differential for motor vehicles and the like comprising differential gears and axles driven thereby; auxiliary differential gears carried b one of said axles and ada t- .ed to drive sai first named gears, means or locking one of said gears of said auxiliary gears r changing the speed ratio of said axles, means for permittin said vehicle to free-wheel 1n normal spee means cooperating with said auxiliariy gears for permit- T movement when said gear is locked, and

means fordriving said auxiliary gears.

2. In a diflerential for motor vehicles and the like com rising difierential gears and axles driven t ereby, auxiliary gears carried by one of said axles and adapted to drive said first named gears, locking means for one gear of said auxiliar gears for decreasing the speed of said ax es, means for permitting said locking means to rotate with the forward movement of said vehicle to cause a free-wheeling movement of said vehicle, said locking means adapted to hold said vehicle against reverse movement, and means for driving said auxiliary gears.

3. In a differential for motor vehicles and the like comprising difi'erential gears and axlesdriven thereby; auxiliary differential gears for driving said first named gears, one gear of said auxiliary gears keyed to the caslng. or" said first named gears, the other gear of said auxiliary ears adapted to be locked against rotation or chan ng the speed of said axles and holding sald vehicle against reverse movement,said locking means adapted to permit a free-wheeling movement of said axles, means cooperating with said auxiliary gears for causing a free-wheelin move ment of said axles in normal speed, an means for driving said auxiliary gears.

4. In a differential for motor vehicles and the like comprising difierential gears and axles driven thereby, auxiliary .difierential gears for driving said first named gears, means cooperating with said auxiliary gears for causing said axles to free wheel in normal speed, means for locking one of saidauxiliary gears for changing the speed of said axles, said locking means adapted to permit said axles to -free-wheel while in said changed .speed and locking said vehicle against reverse movement while in said changed s eed, and means for driving said auxiliary dliferential gears.

5. In a difierential for motor vehicles and the like comprising differential ears and axles driven thereby; auxiliary liferential gears carried by one of said axles and adapted axles said means adapted to be actuated for locking said vehicle against reverse movement, and means for driving said auxiliary gears. v 1

7. In a differential for motor vehicles and the like having differential gears and axles driven thereby; auxiliary dlfi'erential gears carried by one of said axles and adapted to drive said first named gears, manually operated means for controllmg the action of said auxiliary differential ears for changing the speed ratio of said ax es, means cooperating with said auxiliary gears for locking said vehicle against reverse movement, and means fordriving said auxilia gears.

In testimon whereoffl set my hand, this 16th day of une 1932.

SAMUEL A. 'B. HAMILTON, JR. 

